Forging Community: A Celebration of Contemporary Blacksmithing

Presented by: Contemporary Craft
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Check‑in begins at 9:00 AM)
Location: Contemporary Craft, 5645 & 5688 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Tickets: $40 General | $25 Students | Scholarships available
Includes: Breakfast, lunch, and event t‑shirt

About the Event:

Contemporary Craft celebrates the opening of its new Blacksmithing Studio with a full‑day symposium. The event features live demonstrations, presentations, a silent auction, an artist market, and two hours of free forge time.

Schedule:

9:00 – 10:00 AM – Check‑in
10:00 – 10:15 AM – Opening Remarks

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

• Demo 1: Anna Koplik – Hammer Forming

• Speaker 1: Rivers of Steel

12:00 PM – Silent Auction Opens
12:30 – 1:15 PM – Catered Lunch

1:30 – 3:00 PM

• Demo 2: Andrew Welton

• Speaker 2: Pat Quinn

3:30 – 4:30 PM – Keynote Speaker: Anna Koplik
5:00 PM – Silent Auction Ends
5:00 – 7:00 PM – Free Forge Time (led by Glen Gardner and Jared Ondovchik)

Keynote Speaker: Anna Koplik

Anna R. Koplik graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Jewelry, where she discovered her love for metalwork and forging. She now travels nationally as a journeyman architectural smith and teaches workshops at craft schools including Penland, Touchstone, Haystack, and John C. Campbell.

Her personal work focuses on tool and utensil making—combining functionality with a refined, delicate aesthetic. She specializes in hammer and tong making, spoon forging, and forge‑to‑finish work.

Anna is passionate about making blacksmithing welcoming and accessible to everyone, especially those who may feel intimidated by the craft.

Find more information here!

Find more events going on in Pittsburgh here!